Machine for manufacturing zip fasteners



Dec. 10, 1935. L. M. SCHUNE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS.

l6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1953 Y I In yentor:

. 10, 1935, M. SCHUNE MACHINILFOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS l6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1933 v Inventor: MW%MMZ 54M.

Dec. 10, 1935. 1.. M. SCHUNE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS Filed June '21, 1933 16 sheets-sh t 4 Dec. 10, 1935.. M. SCHUNE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS l6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 21, 1933 [fin/enter.-

Dec. 10, 1935. L. M. SCHUNE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS Filed June 21, 1933 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 Inventor: 24W; Maw/W Dec. 10, 1935.

L. M. SCHUNE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS Filed June 21, 1933 I Inventor:

an wmww Dec. 10, 1935. 1.. M. SCHUNE' MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS l6 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 21, 1953 4 O 1 o 2 o 2 3 5 9 9 9 9 o 2 7 4 l 4 1 1 2 m 2 2 Inventor.- (Man/Adm 10; 1935. M; SCHUNE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS Filed June 21; 1935 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 Inyentar:

-L.M. SCHUNE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS .Filed June .21, 1953 16 She ets-Sheet 10 Inventor: M 714ml gawk Dec. 10, I935. L. M.-SCHUNE 2023648 MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASirmjERs Filed June'2l, 1953 16 Sheets- Sheet 12 10, 1935. M. SCHUNE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS Filed June 21, 1953 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 I n ventor:

' zM w/{M Dec. 10, 1935. L. M. SCHUNE 2,023,648

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS Filed June 21, 1953 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 [n ventor:

m %mwz $1M 10, 1935. -L' sc u 2,023,648

MACH INE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIP FASTENERS Filed June.2l, 1933 16 Sheets-Sheet l6 Inventor:

patented Dec. 3Q, 1935 MACHINE FOR mannracrnnrne are rasrnnnas Lucien Marcel Schune, St. Mauides- Fosses, France Application June 21, 1933, Serial No. 677,094 in France June 23, 1932 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a sorting and setting machine'for the manufacture of flexible metallic fasteners.

Flexible metallic fasteners, or zip fasteners,

55 consist of two flexible bands generally of fabric, in which are set male and female hooks, respectively, which, by interlocking, serve to connect together the two bands that form the fastener.

The machines for the manufacture of such fasteners consist of the combination of two parts, one called the sorting machine which receives in bulk the hooks cut and stamped, separates them from one another and after having placed them in a suitable position, conveys them automatically to the second part called the setting machine. This second part. guides and holds the flexible band, takes the hooks, disposes them on the band, and sets them thereon.

The hooks employed in machines of this kind comprise two flat branches and a boss projecting on one side of the hook with respect to said branches.

The essential feature of the present invention consists in providing a sorting device adapted to feed the hooks in suitable position to the clipping mechanism whatever'be the relative positicn. of said hooks when initially presented to said sorting and feeding device, that is to say whether their boss is turned on one side or on the opposite one.

This machine is further remarkable in that its setting portion comprises automatic means for periodically driving and stopping the flexible band synchronously with the movement of the clipping tool, automatic and adjustable means ensuring the stopping and the starting of the setting portion of the machine, so as to obtain bandshaving portions provided with hooks clipped thereon of determined lengths separated by intervals without hooks also of determined length.

' Other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of some specific detailed embodiments thereof.

Preferred embodiments of the present inven- .tion will be hereinafter described with reference (Cl. 153ll) chutes of the sorter with their bends for straightening the position of the hooks;

Fig. 5 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a plane view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the rotary dis-' 5 tributing member, one of the walls thereof being cut away;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic-a1 view showing the disposition of the hooks in a chute having an eccentric groove or slot;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical view showing the disposition of the hooks in a chute having an axial groove or slot;

Figs. 10 and 11 are an elevational view and a side view respectively of the lever that supports the hook while the sorting operation is taking place in the eliminator;

Figs. 12 and 13 are an elevational View and a side view respectively of the ejecting lever of the eliminator;

Figs. 14 and 15 are cross sectional views showing a hook in the round position, respectively before and after its being ejected;

Figs. 16 and 17 are an elevational .view, and a sectional view on the line A-A of Fig. 16 of a stopping shutter of the eliminator;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the lever that controls the automatic stopping at the end of the filling;

Fig. 19 illustrates the operation of the automatic stopping device when a single hook passes under one of noses of the oscillating member;

Fig. 20 shows the operation of this device when the column of hooks is complete and each nose of the oscillating member is blocked by a hook;

Figs. 21A, 21B and 21C are three complementary portions of an elevational view of the lower part of the machine, which serves to set the hooks;

Fig. 22- is a sectional view on the line 22-22 of Fig. 213;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view on theline 23-23 of Fig. 21B; showing the feed stopping device;

Fig. 24 is a sectional view on the line 24-24 of Fig. 23, showing the position of the stop levers in the notches;

,Fig. 25 is a sectional view on the line 25-25 of Fig. 21B; 4

Fig. 26 is a plane view of the protecting plate;

Fig. 27 is a sectional view of the central feed chute on the line 21-21 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 28 is a sectional view on the line 28-28 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 29 is a sectional view on a larger scale of the upper part of the feed chute;

Fig. 30 is an elevational view, on a larger scale of the distributor with its member for pushing the pieces at the start of its forward movement;

Fig. 31 is a similar view at the end of the forward movement of the distributor;

Fig. 32 is a plane view showing the distributor with its control cam;

Figs. 33 and 34 are perspective views of the two oscillating levers with elastic connection that transmit the feed movement to the distributor;-

' Fig. 35 is a sectional view on the line 3535 of Fig. 21A, showing the cross section of the guide for the flexible band; 4

Fig. 36 is an el'evational view showing the device 5 for transmitting the feed movement to the distributor;

Fig. 37 is a corresponding side view; Fig. 38 is a corresponding side view seen from the other side; Fig. 39 is a plane view showing the tool for grasping the fabric and the clipping tool, with their driving organs;

Fig. 40 is a sectional view on the line 40-00 of Fig. 21A showing the device for controlling the cam that actuates'the tool for grasping the fabric;

Fig. 41 is an elevational view of the escapement block;

Fig. 42.is an end view of the device for automatically stopping the setting portion of the machine;

Fig. 43 is a plane view of the pawl serving to the automatic stopping; i

Fig. 44 is a plane view of-the device for con trolling the escapement block;

Fig. 45 is a plane view of the plate carrying the stop fingers;

Fig. 46 is a front elevational view of thedevice for automatically stopping the clipping of the hooks;

Fig; 47 is a partial elevational view at right angles to the preceding one; Fig. 48 is a corresponding plane view; Fig. 49 is a plane view on a larger scale, showing the device forcontrolling the anchor escapement;

Fig. 50 is a sectional view on a larger scale, on the line 5050 of Fig. 49;

Fig. 51 is an elevational view of another embodthe addition of a retarded relay.

The sorting and setting machine for'the manufacture of flexible metallic fasteners, or zip fasteners, shown in the accompanying drawings cs- 55 sentially comprises two portions supported by a common frame:

' (1) The sorter which is fed with hooks in bulk, and mixed together; this portion of the machine sorts the hooks, arranges them, distributes them and automatically prepares them for their positioning and clipping on the fabric.

(2) The setter which automatically places the hooks coming from the sorter on the fabric and clips them thereon; this portion of the machine 66 also'comprises devices permitting to regulate the feed of the hooks and their clipping on the fabric according to the length of the zip fastener that it is desired to obtain.

Each'of these portions of the machine com- 70 prises a certain number of organs performing the operations hereinafter described.

1. The sort'er comprises: (a) A separator A which receives hooks in bulk and serves to distribute them; 76 (b) A sorting device B which'sorts them in iment of the automatic stop control lever, withv tion;

(c) A vibrating device C actuating the sorting device and conveying the hooks by gravity toward the feed tubes E, E;

(d) An eliminator D which casts out the hooks that are in the wrong direction;

.(e) An automatic stopping device F;

(,f) A device G permitting to place either of the feed tubes into communication with a cen- 10 tral chute H;

(g) A central chute H for feeding the clipping portion ofthe machine;

(it) A decohering hamm'er m.

2. The clipping portion of the machine com- 15 prises: (a) A horizontal guiding chute I for the flexible band;

(b) A distributor O for distributing the hooks along the fabric; 20 (c) A pair of tongs J maintaining the fabric in the position for receiving the hooks;

(d) A clipping tool K having two branches for placing the hooks on the edge of the fabric and clipping them in-position; 25

(e) A semi-automatic device L for moving the fabric;

(f) An automatic device for stopping the clip- P g tool;

(g) An automatic device for driving the flex- 30 ible band, adjusting its length, pulling the dead end and starting the operation.

Each of the organs that go to make these two portions of the machine will be studied separately, and its operation will be explained at the 35 same time as that of the pieces with which it cooperates.

\ The hook Z shown in an elevational view and a side view respectively in Figs. 1 and 2 is of the type generally utilized for the manufacture of 40 flexible metallic-fasteners. It comprises a boss or hook Z on one of its faces, a hollow Z' of corresponding size in the opposite face, and two branches Z" for clipping on to the fabric.

1. Soa'rrm (a) Separator The separator A (Figs. 4, 4a, 5, 6 and 7) consists of a hopper I of suitable shape into the bot- 50 tom of which opens the splayed end IOI of a conical member I02 rigidly fixed to the lid I03 of dividing member 2. This frusto-conical dividing member 2 which is actuated through pulley I 04 is provided with an inner drum I05 rigidly fixed to lid I03 and through which passes conical member I02.- The outer periphery of said dividing member is provided with a certain number of openings I 06, four in the present case, placed close to lid I03. The latter is provided on its 50 innerface with four small blades I00 carried by brackets I01 which form together a discontinuous ring parallel to the lid, the width of which corresponds to the interval between the cylindrical wall of drum I05 and the inner wall of 5 frusto-co'nical member 2, the outer edge of said blades passing close to said wall of member 2. A free space I09 is provided between two adjacent blades I08. These blades form together with the periphery of drum I05, the inner wall of 70 member 2 and lid I03, compartments opening into spaces I09, and the bottom of which, consisting of portion IIO of brackets I01, is located substantially opposite the openings I00 provided in the wall of frusto-conical member 2. 15

386' supplying a passage for bosses 2.

These openings I06 are located opposite a hopper 3, the lower end of which opens over the sorter.

The hooks poured in bulk in hopper I are caused to enter, owing to the rotation of member 2 and of the shape of the end Illl, into a conical element I02 from which they slide by gravity into dividing member 2. Owing to the frusto-conical shape of this member 2, the hooks slide towards the left hand side thereof (Fig. 7). They are then caught bysmall blades I08 which cause them to penetrate into the corresponding compartments at the bottom of which are located openings N15. The hooks drop regularly through said openings into hopper 3 which conveys them to the sorter. It should be noted that dividing member 2 might be replaced by an organ that would play the same part, for instance a shaking hopper.

(b) Sorter inclined walls H3 forming a kind of hoppen' These guiding members are held together by cross pieces HI so as to leave between them a space H2 forming a slide and of carefully calculated width. These guiding members are further provided wtih notches 6, 6' (Fig. 6) of suitable shape and the size of which corresponds to that of .the boss 2 of hooks Z. These guiding members are disposed inside an inclined box 8 for receiving books that are rejected. An opening 7 provided at the end of the slide connects the latter with said box 8, the lower end of which is connected with an outlet tube In for said hooks.

This sorter can oscillate at its rear part about two screws 5, and at its front part it is connected to the vibrating device 0.. Opposite notches 6 and 6' (Fig. 4a) there are disposed grooves 386, I These grooves comprise a sudden bend 387, 381' respectively, then a substantially vertical part 388, 388, and a part moderately inclined 389, 383. This inclined part is followed by a substantially vertical part 390, 390' leading to the straightening bend 39|, 39|', and finally the last portion 392, 392' which is substantially vertical. Spacing members III are cut as shown in Figs. 4 and 4a, and are so arranged as to leave between their edges a chute 393, 393' the bend 9, 9 of which is intended to cooperate with the straightening bends 39l, 39l of the guide groove 386, 386 corresponding to boss .2 of the hooks, these chutes 393, 393' leading to the feed chutes E, E. The latter are fiat and have a width and a thickness that are so calculated as to correspond to a good piling and to a proper guiding of the hooks. They'comprise a longitudinal groove e, e which is not located axially, provided in one of the large walls of the chutes and registering with grooves 386, 385' of the sorter. Each of these grooves is intended to receive the boss .2 of hooks Z, and it is of sufiicient size for ensuring the perfect guiding of said hooks.

' (c) Vibrating device The vibrating device/C (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) of a known type per se,"consists of a polarized magnetic relay, the principle of which is analogous to that of somesystems of electric bells.

Besides, it should be noted that this specific vibrating device can be replaced by any other equivalent device, for instance of a purely me chanical or pneumatic type.

- The ends of guiding members t and 4 are engaged, as more clearly shown by Fig. 4, between the vibrating member C of vibrating device C and a flat spring (3 fixed to said vibrating member C so that the vibratory movement of member 5 C is imparted to said guiding members 4 and 4 which oscillate about screws 5, thus urging the hooks that issue from hopper 3 towards the lower portion of the slide. These hooks, due to the inclination of walls H3, have their branches en- 10 gaged into slide H2 where they hook by their boss or hook a which prevents them from dropping between guiding members d, a. These hooks are therefore engaged into a groove H2,

along which they slide toward the front of the 15 1 machine, the boss of each of them being turned either on the right hand side or on the left hand side. The hooks, the bosses of which are located on the left hand side come opposite notch 6' and move downwardly therethrough, while the 20 others slide as far as notch 6 through which they are moved down already.

The hooks that are not of standard shape (having for instance too large or too small bosses) and also those that are not properly brought op- 25 posite notches B, 8', fall into box 8 from which they slide into.a tube It) leading to a receptacle that-is not shown in'the drawings. Ths is due to the fact that the hooks that have bosses larger than the standard size cannot engage into 30 openings 6, 6' and therefore further move along guiding surfaces 4, 4 until they reach an opening 1 located directly above the inlet of tube I0. As for the hooks that have bosses smaller than the standard size, they slip between guiding surfaces 4 and 4 before they can reach open ings 6, 6, drop onto the inclined bottom of box 8 and slide along said bottom into tube in. The hooks thus removed are again circulated through the machine until there remains only the hooks to that are absolutely impossible to use.

The bosses of the hooks that have passed through each of the notches 6, 6' meet the sharp bend 381, 381' which has for its effect to impart a slight shock to them, in order to bring 45 them, as far as possLble, into the vertical position. Furthermore, the presence of the projection corresponding to points 381, SN serves to guide the branches of the hooks having their bosses located on the side opposite to the notch that is con- 50 sidered, so as to oppose a partial penetration of these hooks into said notch, which would result in stopping the feed. The hooks still guided by the sliding of their bosses owing to the vertical portion 388, 388', quickly clear this part 55 I of the sorter so as to leave a free passage for the following hooks; they then move along slightly inclined portions 389, 389 which allows them, as wll through the eifect cf gravity as under the action of the vibrations imparted by the vibrating B device,'to assume a substant'ally vertical position with their branches downwardly directed. The substantially vertical part 390, 393' accelerates their speed.

When a hook is in a substantially vertical pa- .5 sition, its branches being directed either upwardly or downwardly, it passes through the straightening bends without being infiuencedthereby, and penetrates normally into the feed tubes E, E. If the hook is inclined, resting through its boss 70 upon the straightening bends 39l, 39V and through the ends of its branches upon the straightening bends 9 and 9' of spacing members Ill, it pivots about its boss until the end of the branches is located opposite the vertical portion 1i of chutes 393, 393 which is prolonged by feed chuts E, E The hook therefore enters the latter in a vertical position, the branches being directed downwardly.

The feed chutes E, E receive the hooks issued from the sorter, the boss 2 of said hooks entering the groove e, e of the corresponding chute. The groove e, e of this chute is located on'the one side of the medium line of the wall in which it is provided, This arrangement (Fig. 8) gives the hooks an inclination that permits a proper guiding of the hooks without any possible jamming.

On the contrary, the arrangement of grooves located along the axis of one of the walls of the chute, has the disadvantage of producing frequent jamming (Fig. 9) due to the fact that the hooks engage into one another.

The hooks therefore move in said tubes under the action of gravity. They are disposed (Fig. 8) in such manner that their branches are located either upwardly or downwardly and are guided by the sliding of their bosses in groove e or e. One of the feed chutes E on the drawings, is twisted by half a turnso that when they arrive to eliminator D, all the hooks have their bosses located in the same side.

(d) Eliminator The eliminator D (Figs. 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,

15, 16 and 17) comprises essentially two levers I2 and I3 urged by springs H5, H and oscillating about a spindle II5 integral with frame II and controlled by a set of cams I1 and I0 provided on a. wheel I9 driven by the engine that drives the sorting portion of the machine. Lever I2 (Figs. 10 and 11) has its upper end III applied against cam I8 by a spring II6 fastened on the one hand to frame II, and on the other hand to a projection I2 of lever I2. The other end of jected to the action of a spring IIO, fastened atone of its ends to frame II, and at the other end to projection I3 of lever I3. The upper end 3 of said lever is in contact with cam II. This lever 'comprisesat its lower part two sets of punchers I20, I20 and I2I, I2I'. The latter punchers I2I,";I2I' which are of circular shape, slide in correspondingchannels I22, I22 of corresponding cross section and having the shape of circularrarcs having their centres on the geometric axisof spindle I I5. These punchers I2I, I2I' are acted upon .by springs I23, I23 disposed in channels I22, I22. Lever I3 carries, by means of two screws I24, a return piece I 25 (shown in Figs. 5, l4 and the function of which will be hereinafter explained.

Each feed chute E, E is provided, in its wall opposite to the one in which is' provided gr'oove e, e, and opposite punchers II8, I'of levers l2 and I3, with an aperture I4, I4 closed by a shutter I5, I5 integral with two side plates I26 provided with a nose I21 and adapted to oscillate about a pin I33 (Figs. 16 and 17). Each of these shutters I5, I5 is provided with an aperture I32. I32 located opposite puncher I20, I20

respectively. Two springs I20, I28, fixed at ,I3I, I3I' to frame II, each have a curved portion I29 terminated by a tail ,I30. Each of these springs acts on the corresponding nose I21 of shutter I5 or I5 either through its curved part 5 I29 or through its tail I30.

A receptacle I6 is located behind apertures I4 and I4 and receives the hooks that are eliminated. The operation of eliminator D is as follows: 10

Lever I2, controlled by cam I0, being in the position shown in Figs. 14 and 15, supports through its punchers I I8, I I0 each of the columns of hooks to be sorted disposed respectively in feed chutes E,'E'. Thesepunchers IIB, I I8 can sup- 15 port the pile of hooks either through one of the branches of the last hook Z bearing against one of said punchers, if said last hook Z. is in the correct position, (owing to the fact that the guide groove e, e of chutes E, E is not dis- 20 posed axially) or through thehead of the last hook resting on the corresponding punch if the latter is disposed head downwards as shown in the drawings.

This hook Z (Fig. 14) is located opposite aperture I4 or I4, which is closed by shutter I5 or I5.

Lever I3 which is actuated by cam I'l now oscillates towards the right hand side about spindle I I5, driving together .with it return membar I 25. In the course of this movement, 30 punchers I2I, I2I' which normally project beyond punchers I20, I20, stop the hook located immediately above the hook Z that is considered, either by engaging between the branches of said hook Z as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 if this hook is in the correct position, or by supporting its head. As lever I3 further moves, punch I2I, I2I', which butts against the wall of chute E, E compresses spring I23, I23, thus allowing punch I29, I20 to move further. If hook Z is in the correct position, the'punch penetrates between the two branches without coming into contact with the hook, and passes through aperture I32 provided in shutter I5, I5. If on the contrary, hook Z is positioned head downwards (Fig. 14), the end of punch I20, I20 butts against the boss 2 of the hook, and, through it, causes shutter I5, I5, which oscillates about spindle I33, to swing back. This movement being started, the nose I21 '01 side plates I25, which up to now was applied against the curved part I23 of spring I 20 is now in contact with the tail I30 of the latter which causes its movement to be completed, thus permitting hook Z to fall into receptacle I5. Lever I3 now oscillates in the opposite direction, driv- 5!; ing together with it return member I25 which brings shutter- I5, I5 into its initial'position in whiclrit is maintainedrby the curved part I 23 of spring I28. The punch I20, I20 has now wholly cleared chute E, E and punch I2I, I2I' pushed 00 by spring I23 is still in contact with the wall of the chute. Lever I3 then remains stationary and lever I2 now oscillates towards the rear, thus removing punch IIO, Ill from the path of travel of the hooks, which allows hook Z to pass to the o5 -lower part of the feed chute, provided of course 

